Medical Assistance

Please note: The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. The order in which they appear has no significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.

Plan to have insurance. Getting medical/hospital treatment abroad can be very expensive and un-insured travelers who require medical assistance overseas will face extreme difficulties. Most U.S medical plans do not include coverage outside of the United States – including U.S Medicare.

Please note: The U.S. Government assumes no responsibility for payment of medical expenses for private individuals.

In an emergency, dial 111, for emergency services (Police, Ambulance, Fire Service). In New Zealand, the number to call if you need the Fire service, Police or an ambulance in an emergency is 111. You can call this number on a mobile phone even if the phone is out of credit. The operator will ask you which service you need and connect you to the right service.

Unlike in the United States, consultations with Specialists are only by referral from a General Practitioner. Doctors practicing in New Zealand, as well as Medical Centers/Clinics, can be easily located via the New Zealand Yellow Pages under “Medical Practitioners”.

Every New Zealand White Pages telephone book has a section at the beginning devoted to “Medical Practitioners and Medical Centres” (the green pages), with a comprehensive list of practitioners in your area. In addition, contact information for each of the hospitals in the main cities is repeated on White Pages online.

U.S. Consulate

This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in New Zealand. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.